TRADES AND LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 258, 22 March 1913, Page 5

TRADES AND LABOR.

THE OTAGO COUNCIL. By Telegraph —Press Association. Duuedin, Last Night, -the Otago Trades and Labor Council has issued a manifesto in regard to tl:e immigration question from tue workers' point of view. The Council contends tnat wiiile population has been attracted to New Zealand for years, a very large proportion of immigrants have been compelled to go to Australia, and that, therefore, it is a flagrant and unwarrantable waste of public money to assist immigrants. It states that many hundreds of immigrants to Australia have been disappointed by finding the conditions and opportunities of employment so different from the glowing pictures of immigration agents and shipping companies, and that there are hundreds of unemployed in each of the Australian States, some o£ whom must come back to these shores. The Council denies the accuracy of the statements as to the shortage of labor, and says that, in any case, to meet the demands, women and children are required. This, it says, means that cheaper workers, not'more workers, are required. This means the undermining of the workers' conditions. After referring to unemployment in the boot trade, the Council says deliberately that an organised attempt is being made to undermine industrial conditions by flooding the labor market, with the object of reducing wages. The manifesto concludes by urging the Government not to continue a policy which must bring about a dislocation of industrial condition?, as well as throw many workers out of employment, ■